Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week and I’m refreshed and revived for my Journey after time in the presence of the Living God. Time spent with Him is the most important thing I’ll do today, not just because I’m showing Him honor by giving Him the first fruit of my time, but because He’s my Commander in Chief and each step I take with Him is a Step in the Right Direction. So, I wake-up, I pray-up, I listen-up and I arm-up each day with His Plans for me front-and-center, and as long as His Plans are my main focus; I’ll succeed in every single thing I do..for Him and with Him. Isn’t that the way you see your life too?

It’s easy to measure “success” by tangible signs that come from dollars and cents. Big cars, big houses, big toys and big jewelry catch an admiring eye from most people. Sometimes these things are a genuine sign of affluence, and sometimes they are nothing more than an attempt for some poor soul to fool the world into believing they’re something they’re not. Some people try so hard to impress the world and the cost and the consequences don’t seem to matter to them as they work so hard to be admired. Sometimes affluence is just a lifestyle that has effortlessly passed on from generation to generation and it would be nearly impossible to spend all the money if they tried. Sometimes there is no outward sign of money at all, and the “keeper” of the wealth could easily be presumed to be penniless. The world is often shocked when it hears of their passing and how they left almost every penny they ever earned behind.  There’s no wrong in having lots of money as some people of Faith would lead the world to believe. After all, if nobody had any money, God would have a tough time funding ministry and working His miracles in a tangible world. But the truest sign of wealth isn’t measured in money at all, and the truest sign of Success doesn’t come from the bank. It’s what we do here on earth that has an Eternal “measure” that will bring the greatest Reward (AND joy) and the reward at the “end of the day” will exceed the value of all the gold in the world. This is the key to Success.

We’re each born for a Big Purpose and each of us has already been equipped for the Job. How interesting it is to hear people say “I don’t know what God wants me to do”, when He’s already issued the Job Description and He’s already given each of us a unique Gift to be used for His Purpose that will always lead to Success. Jesus said to Peter, “if you love Me; feed my sheep”. But how will we feed them food if we have no money and how will feed them Truth if we aren’t willing to try? Hoarding up our Gifts and our talents and our money serves no Purpose at all, and if we aren’t careful; the same God that gives is the God that takes away too and we could so easily find ourselves penniless and useless for Him if we don’t put to Good Use those things that bring Him glory.

I may be a “business woman” and I work hard to earn my dollars, but the Greatest Work that I’ll ever do in my life is my work for Him. He’s front-and-center in my work, in my family, in my friendships and everything else in between. As long as I have my Life in Perspective; I’ll always be successful. The fruit of my labor will soon dissolve my debt, and the Fruit of my work for Him will have Eternal Significance. I love Him and I’m doing my Part based on my Job Description…I’m going forth to tell the world the Good News, and I’m using my Gifts and my talents to feed His sheep day in and day out. I’ll never have to worry about a single thing as long as I’ve got that Part right.

How about you?